NISCC Ambassador Scheme

Social Care and Social Work Ambassadors are people working in social care and social work roles who volunteer to share their enthusiasm for their career and help to inspire a new generation to join the workforce.

These two services are supported and managed by the NISCC. They aim to improve public awareness of social care and social work as rewarding career options and the value of these professions within multi-disciplinary teams, our communities and wider society.

Having current hands-on experience is vital to allow the Ambassador to provide a realistic and accurate picture of what it is like to work in the sector and explain what the job involves.

Ambassadors must be good communicators and be confident about speaking to people about their individual careers and the profession in general.

Ambassadors can be: front line workers, managers or even social work students. They will have knowledge and experience of working with and providing services to a range of adults, young people, families, children and older people to help them manage the impact of disability, illness or ageing.

Social Care Ambassadors can be employed in residential or nursing care homes; domiciliary care; day care and supported living settings.

Social Work Ambassadors can work as education welfare officers; in community teams with people with disability, mental health issues, older people or in child protection services; as probation officers; in residential childcare settings; hospitals; and family centres.

An Ambassador's role is to inform and motivate people to consider social care or social work professions as positive career choices. They share their experiences of working in social care or social work with those who are considering these career options and those who have not previously considered work in this sector. Their purpose is to help people have a better understanding of what these roles involve and how social care and social work professionals support adults, young people, families, children and older people to manage circumstances which make them vulnerable and in need of social care and social work services.

Ambassadors highlight the range of different career opportunities that are available and what motivated them to join their professions. They provide positive news stories to raise the public profile of the care sector and to reinforce the vital role they have within multi-disciplinary teams, our communities and wider society. They do this work by engaging in one or more of the following activities;

Providing information talks or discussions, for example: to students or job seekers at university or college open days or school career days.

Engaging in interactive group activities, for example: to students or job seekers in schools, colleges and at careers events.

Supporting an information stand at events

Supporting work experience placements

Facilitating guided workplace visits

Speaking to groups of teachers, careers advisors and other health professionals to refresh their knowledge and understanding of the care and social work sectors.

The Ambassador services are an excellent way to promote social care and social work to future employees. It can help employers attract the right people with the right qualities into the social care and social work professions to improve “right first time” appointments.

Ambassadors can help to raise the profile of the sector and promote your services at both a local and regional level in a positive way.

Social Work Ambassadors will also help employers promote the unique role of the social worker within multi-disciplinary teams and will help develop social workers’ skills and foster pride in their profession.

If you employ people in social care or social work roles who would make good Ambassadors, please consider joining these valued services. The NISCC Workforce Development Team supports employers to train new Ambassadors, provides resources to use at events and liaises with schools and colleges to set up Ambassador presentations and talks. More information is available in the Ambassador Guidance resources below for Ambassadors for Careers in Care and Social Work Ambassadors. Email any queries to: Mairead.harkin@niscc.hscni.net (Workforce Development Officer)

The Ambassador Services are an excellent way to attract more informed applicants to train to become social care workers and social workers. Ambassadors can help attract applicants who have a clearer understanding of what the roles entail and will encourage wider representation across gender and ethnic minority groups to join the professions.
Social Work Ambassadors can help attract applicants with the right value base to apply to Degree in Social Work programmes.

If you have enrolled social work or social care students you think would make good Ambassadors, please consider encouraging them to join the service. The NISCC Workforce Development Team supports the training of new Ambassadors, provides resources to use at events and liaises with schools and colleges to set up Ambassador presentations and talks. More information is available in the Ambassador Service Guidance below. Email any queries to: Mairead.harkin@niscc.hscni.net (Workforce Development Officer)

Before you start -

A social care or social worker must have approval from their employer if they want to become an Ambassador. Student social workers must have approval from their educational institute if they want to become a social work ambassador.

First Steps -

Employer should contact NISCC to register on the relevant NISCC Ambassador Service (social care or social work). NISCC is the lead partner for both services and oversees the maintenance of the Ambassador registers. Email: mairead.harkin@niscc.hscni.net (Workforce Development Officer)

NISCC will provide guidance on becoming an Ambassador; on Ambassador registration and training; access to training resources; helps co-ordinate Ambassador visits and promotes and monitors the services.

New Ambassadors complete their training and submit their Ambassador Registration forms to the NISCC to be added to the Ambassador registers. This information outlines the Ambassadors areas of interest and the locations they can travel to which aids NISCC when searching for a suitable Ambassador.

(Please note - the Social Work Ambassador Scheme is a new pilot and these ambassadors should contact Mairead Harkin at mairead.harkin@niscc.hscni.net for more information on how to register and access training.)

These services are FREE and are available to careers advisors, teachers, colleges, universities, community or professional groups who want to learn more about these professions and their unique roles within our communities and wider society. Click on Ambassador Films/Profiles to meet some of the NI Ambassadors for Careers in Care.

When requesting Ambassadors, please specify which ambassadors you want to hear from (social care or social workl). You can also request ambassadors from both services. NISCC will endeavour to match Ambassadors to your geographical area, experience or suitability for the audience. Please complete the Ambassador Visit Request Form and email it to admin@niscc.hscni.net